Colostomies and Ileostomies
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
October 8, 2011 4:17pm CST
I'm writing a series of articles about colostomies and ileostomies. Mainly, I want to not just cover about the surgery and the ostomy products, but I want to delve into the feelings of people who have undergone surgery or are contemplating the realization that they must have surgery to keep living.
I've already touched on the fears and trepidations of facing ostomy surgery. I've also touched on questions that people might have about their body image and how it relates to ostomy surgery.
If you know anyone who has a colostomy or ileostomy, or if you have undergone the surgery yourself, or you are facing it soon.. please come and tell me what is most on your mind about having a colostomy or ileostomy.
I realize there may not be many people coming to this discussion, and that is okay. I want real discussions about things that people having an ostomy or facing ostomy surgery would want to talk about.
I've touched on a person's attitude about their ostomy will determine how others feel about it. If the person has a good attitude about it, his/her friends and family will also be okay with it. A spouse or partner will also accept if the person is open about it.
Your thoughts?
4 people like this
2 responses
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Oct 11
hi pr pointlessquestions oh yes I lived with myhusband and his freaking out over his colostomy . I tried to reassure him that it did not matter to me as I loved him and was glad he fought the colon cancer and survived. but he hated the idea of that bag of refuse being where it was. also he was horribly allergic to the rubber used in the stoma bags. the visiting nurse tried maybe ten different creams to soothe his breaking out but when Hollister company changed bags his allergy cleared u p. he had quite a time getting use to the idea of that colostomy. He was on Valium until its side effects almost drove him mad. then he quit taking them. He is deceased now but there's a need for people to help those with colostomies and ileostomies too.I accepted it but he did not
'and I felt so helpless as the mental health clinic did zilch
'as they did not seem to see what he was feeling.;I tell you really nobody likes to feel that they are a freak or are different from other people. there is a need for help for people like my husband was. there was no help then so surely there has to be now for people unsure of the whole thing.I tried my best to assure him that he was no different than before but he did not see it that way. hope I have helped you and that we can see some groups that will really help people with ostomies like that to feel good again about themselves.
3 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
9 Oct 11
Dearest Hatley,
Thank you so much for your response about how your husband felt about his colostomy. It is so wonderful to 'hear' that you were accepting of him with his colostomy. Since I'll be writing a lot about colostomies and ileostomies, it is important to understand how a couple relates to the change in body image.
Thanks for mentioning the clinic and that they didn't help your husband. It's like their job is the clinical end, but the dealing with the body image change is something that the person has to deal with. I think there are some good support groups available now for people with colostomies.
I want my series to be real, which is why I want people like you, Hatley, to respond and share their knowledge and experience.
Thank you!
3 people like this
